Car-coupling.



N0. 653,686. Patehted July I7, I900.

- c. MEHRING.

CAB COUPLING.

{Application filed June 3, 1899.) \No Model.) 2 SheetsShe'et I.

WITNESSES: INVENTUR F W C. Mehring W7 r: BY Sad/65 m /q/ A TORNEY m: man's vmns ca, mum-urna. wgummum n. c,

No. 653,686. Patented .Iuly I7, I900. C. MEHRING.

GAB COUPLING.

(Application filed June a, 1899.)

2 Shee'ts-Sheei 2.

(No'ModeL) Fig. 5.

INVENTOR O. Mehring IATTORNEZ? Fig- 6.

WITNESSES:

NITED STATES PATENT FFIQE.

CHARLES MEHRING, OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA.

CAR=COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 653,686, dated July 17, 1900.

Application filed June 3,1899- n'eria 110- 719,258. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES Mnnnmc, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Oharlottesfllle, in the county of Albemarle and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Oar-Couplers, of which the followingis a specification.

My present invention relates to an improvement over the state of the art in the department in car-couplers, and pertains to an improved construction of my automatic carcoupler as shown, described, and claimed in my former patent, No. 613,523, of November 1, 1898, application filed August 27,1S97,Serial N0. 642,792.

In carrying out my invention I provide means for uncoupling the two parts of the coupler from each other by one manual operation, which is so constructed that one of the pair of vertically-swingingjaws rises and through the medium of a tongue raises the other vertically-swinging jaw from the corresponding members of the pair of horizontally-swinging jaws. The horizontally-swinging jaws are adapted to swing through a maximum predetermined angle, ears being provided upon the rear partofthe jaws, in whose paths are located lugs provided on the drawbars. By this construction the springs of the former patented device, which are sometimes objectionable, are dispensed with.

Certain other detailed improvements are involved in combination with the abovenamed elements and are hereinafter fully disclosed.

Drawings are annexed to facilitate the understanding of the invention.

Figure 1 is a plan of the two portions of the coupler in a separated condition pointing toward each other, so that if moved directly toward each other they will 'automatically couple. In the figure portions of the device here and there are broken away in order to exhibit the internal construction. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one-half part of the coupler with a portion broken away for the same purpose. Fig. 3 is a front end elevation, and Fig. 4 a rear elevation, of one part of the coupler, both parts being duplicates of each other. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are difierent views of that jaw which is provided with a tongue. Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are different views of one of the horizontally-swinging jaws.

The organization comprising my invention consists of the following elements:

The draw-bars are 1, and each has a jaw 2 pivoted in the draw-bar on the spindle 3 to swing vertically, and also a jaw 4 pivoted upon the spindle 5 to swing horizontally or laterally, so that the verticallyswinging jaw 2 on one draw-bar may be adapted to be engaged by a laterally-swinging jaw on the other draw-bar and so that the remaininglaterally-swinging jaw may be adapted to be engaged with the remaining vertically-swinging jaw on the other draw-bar. The draw-bar 1 is a box having at one edge thereof a flange 6, curved on the inner side outwardly from the interior of the box, forming a guidingsurface 7 for-directing the laterally-swinging jaws 4 to a central position, so as to be engaged by the vertically-swinging jaws.

8, shaped somewhat like a sword-point, is a tongue on each vertically-swinging jaw, and in the path thereof is a lug 9 on the other vertically-swinging jaw formed by cutting away a part of the jaw, the lugs acting as cams or bearings, along which the tongues slide and lift the jaws 2 and uncouple them from the laterally-swinging jaws whenever either one of the vertically-swinging jaws is lifted.

The force for lifting either vertically-swinging jaw may be manual, electric, pneumatic, or any other force, and the force may be applied, for example, to a bolt 10, passing through the hole ll in regard to both drawbars 1. vertically-swinging jaws 2 is at the lowest point of its swing, and it is held there not only by gravity, but by the additional force exerted by a spring 12, compressed between the arm 13 on the rear of thejaw, on the one hand, and the bottom 14 of the draw-bar box 1, on the other hand. Pressure downward upon the bolt will act against the spring 12 and lift the draw-bar free from the verticallyswinging jaw in each instance. The device may therefore be conveniently uncoupled by the foot.

I have also shown a cam 15, acting on a lever 16, both pivoted, respectively, at--17 and The normal position of each of the draw-bar 1, arc-shaped to conform to the cylindrical surface 22 of the lug 4 and lying in the path of but not normally touching said cars 20. Consequently each jaw 4 is free to turn and be guided by the surface 7 on the other draw-bar into the box and to be engaged by the proper vertically-swinging jaw, and this provision permits the automatic coupling to occur with certainty upon curves and to make a flexible coupling without danger of fracture when the cars swing back and forth and travel around curves. The distance between the ears 20 and the lug 21, which may he called also a stop, need not be large, but sufficient to permit the jaw 4 to swing through a great enough angle to conple on the sharpest curve and to permit the train when coupled up to pass around the sharpest curves.

The operation of the device is as follows: Let the device he in the position represented in Fig. 1 or let the two parts therein shown he considered as not in line with each other, but pointed toward each other as they would be when the train is located on a curved track. Let the cars come together, then will the laterally-swinging jaws 4 on each drawbar 1 he guided by the surfaces 7 against the vertically-swinging jaws and will be coupled thereby, while the tongues 8 of the respective vertically-swinging jaws 2 will afterconpling lie directly under corresponding lugs 9 on the othervertically-swingingjaws 2. Thestrength of the springs 12, together with the weight of the jaws 2 and tongues 8, will maintain the jaws in a locked condition, and therefore the cars will remain coupled until either the bolt 10 is compressed or the lever 19 is operated. The extension 22 on the rear of each drawbar (shown broken) is merely for the attachment of the draw-bars to the cars.

In view of the peculiar nature of my invention the cars may be uncoupled by a brakeman from the top of box-cars. This hecomes evident from the drawings. For example, the button 10 may be extended upward to any desired height; but I do not limit myself to any particular means for communicating motion to the jaws from the top of the train. As a consequence the cars will be coupled automatically and may be uncoupled either from the platform or from the top of car.

Not only is safety insured on account of the train coupling without the necessity of a man standing between the cars, but also certainty of proper operation is insured by the construction involving double interlocking jaws. Any jaw may break and yet the train is still coupled, or as many as two certain jaws may break without rupturing the train or two certain other jaws.

I claim as my invention 1. A car-coupler, consisting of the combination of a pair of jaws on one draw-head engaged with a pair of jaws on the other drawhead, and means always governed by a force applied at a point upon either draw-head, adapted to unlock both pairs of jaws from each other.

2. In a car-coupler, the combination with a suitable draw-bar, of a jaw pivoted in the draw-bar to swing vertically and a jaw pivoted in said draw-bar to swinglaterally, said vertically-swinging jaw being adapted to be engaged by a laterally-swinging jaw on another draw-bar, and the said laterally-swinging jaw being adapted to be engaged by a vertically-swinging jaw on the latter draw-bar, and means carried upon each vertically-swinging jaw adapted to actuate the other vertically-swinging jaw.

3. In a car-coupler, the combination with a suitable draw-bar, of a jaw pivoted in the draw-bar to swing vertically and a jaw pivoted in said draw-bar to swing laterally, said vertically-swinging jaw being adapted to be engaged by a laterally-swinging jaw on another draw-har, and the said laterally-swingingjaw being adapted to he engaged bya vertically-swinging jaw on the latter draw-bar, and means carried upon each vertically-swinging jaw adapted to actuate the other vertically-swinging jaw, said means consisting of a tongue on each vertically-swinging jaw hearing against a lug provided on the other vertically-swinging jaw.

4. A car-coupler consisting of the combination of a pair of jaws on one draw-head engaged with a pair of jaws upon the otherdrawhead, and means governed bya force applied at a single point adapted to unlock both pairs of jaws from each other, said means consisting of mechanism for turning one of the jaws in each draw-bar out of engagement with the corresponding jaw of the other draw-bar, and a device carried upon said actuated jaws for also turning the jaws out of engagement with one another.

5. A car-coupler, consisting of the combination of a pair of jaws on one draw-head engaged with a pair of jaws on the other drawhead, means carried upon one jaw of each pair adapted to separate the jaws of both pairs, and a device upon each draw-head adapted to actuate said means.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 30th day of May, 1899.

CHARLES HEHRING. [L. 8.]

Witnesses:

B. H. WILLS, W. F. RANDOLPH. 

